HOA Harmony or Havoc? What Homeowners Really Think

From rising fees to renovation roadblocks, new data shows why many homeowners feel trapped — yet conflicted — about HOA living.

Love them or hate them, homeowners’ associations shape homeowners’ daily lives across the country. In fact, one-third of U.S. housing is part of a community association, according to the Foundation for Community Association Research. For some, HOAs represent safety, well-maintained neighborhoods, and amenities. For others, they represent costs, rules, and limited flexibility.

To learn more about how homeowners actually experience HOA living, Platinum Home Builders & Design, Inc surveyed homeowners who are currently living in HOA-governed communities. We asked about HOA fees, renovation approvals, unrealistic rules, and more. What we found was that HOAs dictate the modern homeowners’ decisions more than you might think.

Key Takeaways

Almost two-thirds of HOA homeowners (64%) say their HOA causes at least some level of day-to-day stress, including 17% who report frequent, high, or extreme stress that affects their mood or mental well-being.
Over one-third of homeowners (37%) regret buying into an HOA, and 39% say they would avoid choosing an HOA again, regardless of whether they regret their current purchase.
HOA rules actively suppress home improvements, with 24% of homeowners saying they have avoided, delayed, or abandoned renovations due to HOA restrictions or fear of denial — 61% experienced losses tied to HOA renovation delays, required changes, or denials.
HOA fees are creating real financial strain, as 51% of homeowners report making financial sacrifices in the past year to afford their dues, including 30% dipping into savings or retirement funds, and 40% cutting discretionary spending.
Nearly half of homeowners (48%) have had a conflict or confrontation with their HOA, and 41% admit to breaking an HOA rule at some point.
Younger homeowners are the most at odds with HOA living: 52% of Gen Z say they regret their HOA purchase, and 55% admit they have broken HOA rules.
HOA enforcement increasingly extends beyond rulebooks, as 38% of homeowners say their HOA uses surveillance technology, such as cameras or license plate readers.

The Reality Check: How Homeowners Feel About HOA Living

HOA living did not feel the same for everyone. Some homeowners said their HOA barely affected their day-to-day life, while others said it regularly added stress. That split showed up early, before issues like fees or renovations even came into play.

Almost two-thirds of homeowners (64%) said that their HOA caused at least some level of HOA-related stress in their day-to-day life. About one-third (34%) said their HOA caused no stress, while 31% reported minimal stress. At the other end of the spectrum, 17% said HOA-related stress was frequent, high, or extreme and affected their daily life or mental well-being.

Stress levels differed by age. Younger homeowners were more likely to report moderate or higher levels of HOA-related stress, while older homeowners were more likely to say their HOA caused no stress. While only 8% of boomers reported moderate to frequent HOA-related stress, 43% of Gen X reported some stress from their HOA, and a combined 48% of Gen Z reported moderate to frequent stress. Twice as many boomers reported no HOA-related stress than Gen Z, at 52% and 26%, respectively. Because HOAs were in their heyday while boomers were young, they may be less likely to criticize them, having grown up with the benefits of the association. Meanwhile, Gen Z’s independent attitude may be why they’re experiencing more HOA-related stress.

Buyer’s Remorse: Would Homeowners Choose an HOA Again?

When asked to look back on their decision, homeowners did not agree on whether living in an HOA was worth it. Some expressed regret outright. Others said they were fine with their current situation but would make a different choice next time.

More than one-third of homeowners (37%) said they regretted buying into an HOA. A larger share (39%) said they would avoid choosing an HOA again, whether or not they regretted their current purchase, while another 38% said they did not regret HOA living and would choose an HOA again in the future.

These responses showed that homeowners’ feelings about their current HOA did not always determine what they would do next time.

Age differences were clear. More than half of Gen Z homeowners (52%) said they regretted buying into an HOA, compared with just 23% of Baby Boomers. Considering Gen Z has significantly less wealth than boomers, the financial stress of belonging to an HOA could weigh heavier on their budgets.

HOA Rules Are Holding Back Home Improvements

For many homeowners, renovations were about making a home feel personal or functional, not just increasing value. In HOA-governed communities, those choices often came with rules and approval requirements that shaped what homeowners even considered doing.

HOA oversight did not always show up at the end of a project. In many cases, it influenced whether homeowners moved forward at all.

Less than one-third of homeowners (29%) said their renovation request was approved quickly and without issues. One in ten (10%) said they considered a renovation but decided not to apply because they expected it to be declined.

For those who did apply, outcomes varied. About one-quarter of homeowners (24%) said they avoided, delayed, or abandoned a home renovation altogether due to HOA restrictions or fear of denial. About 8% said their request was approved only after required changes, and 7% said their request was delayed or difficult to approve.

For some homeowners, those limits were manageable. For others, they led to smaller projects, changed plans, or no project at all.

When HOA Fees Strain Household Budgets

HOA fees went up for most Americans over the past year; 59% of respondents reported higher fees. A report from the U.S. Census Bureau states that about 3 million households pay more than $500 a month in HOA fees. These costs have become a major recurring expense that homeowners need to plan for.

How did homeowners keep up with rising HOA costs? More than half (51%) said they made financial sacrifices over the past year to afford their HOA fees. Many cut back on discretionary spending, including travel or vacations (19%), while others delayed home upgrades or essential repairs.

For some households, the pressure went further. About 30% said they used personal savings or retirement funds to cover HOA fees. In other cases, HOA-related rules led to direct financial losses. More than 3 in 5 who attempted home renovations or repairs (61%) said they experienced losses tied to renovation delays, required changes, or denials, including 7% who reported losses of $5,000 or more.

In a time where more Americans than ever are struggling to pay for basic necessities like groceries and utilities, HOA fees have become an additional expense many homeowners aren’t ready for.

When HOA Rules Spark Disputes

HOA disputes have a reputation. Many homeowners have experienced conflict with their HOA, whether it’s due to rigid bylaws or a lengthy renovation approval process. But we found that not all homeowners experienced the same amount of conflict.

Almost half of homeowners (48%) have reported having some sort of conflict with their HOA. However, most issues were relatively minor. About 17% experienced a calm disagreement or discussion. Another 13% reported having a written dispute, and 11% having an online or email argument. A heated verbal argument was rare, but did happen, with 8% reporting having been in one.

There were noticeable age differences. Younger homeowners were more likely to report some form of conflict, while older homeowners were much more likely to say they had never faced disputes. Nearly three-quarters of Baby Boomers (72%) reported having no conflicts with their HOA. Some disagreements never became discussions. Almost 9% said they avoided confrontation even when they wanted to bring up an issue. Over two in five (41%) of homeowners said they had broken an HOA rule at some point, suggesting that quiet noncompliance was often part of how residents navigated restrictions.

When HOAs cannot have an eye on the neighborhood at all times, they’re turning to technology. Over a third (38%) of respondents said that their HOA has utilized surveillance tools such as cameras or license plate readers to enforce their rules. Many homeowners see this as an invasion of privacy, and an overreach of HOA power.

Why Many Homeowners Still See Value in HOAs

Living in an HOA was not just about fees or restrictions. In fact, two-thirds either agreed or strongly agreed that their HOA adds value to the neighborhood. Many homeowners mentioned the benefits related to how their neighborhoods looked, functioned, and were maintained. For many, those benefits played a meaningful role in how they felt about their community as a whole.

Upkeep was a standout benefit. More than eight in ten homeowners (81%) said that well-maintained common areas or landscaping were a positive aspect of HOA living. Additionally, 67% valued having a consistent appearance throughout the neighborhood. These visible standards ranked among the most commonly mentioned advantages.

Shared amenities also played a role. About 36% of homeowners said that access to features like pools, clubhouses, or gyms added value. Another 35% felt that their HOA helped reduce nuisances such as noise, trash, or poorly maintained properties. Others noted less visible but still important benefits, such as improved security or safety (28%) and a stronger sense of community (24%).

Some homeowners also mentioned longer-term benefits. Nearly 1 in 4 said their HOA helped increase their property values. However, about 14% did not see any clear benefits. When living in an HOA was effective, the advantages appeared in practical, everyday ways that influenced homeowners’ experiences in their neighborhoods.

Still, for many, the payoff was worth it. Despite the headaches, most homeowners said the outcome made the process feel worthwhile, even if they wouldn’t rush to do it again.

HOA Living Was a Trade-Off, Not a Verdict

Despite the drawbacks, 77.1 million Americans still live in Homeowner Associations. For many homeowners, HOA living is simply one of the trade-offs that comes with buying a home.

Some homeowners described stress, rising costs, or limits on how they used their homes. Others pointed to maintenance, amenities, and neighborhood consistency as clear positives. Many experienced both at the same time. HOA living rarely fits into a single category, and opinions were shaped more by day-to-day interactions than by the idea of HOAs themselves.

What stood out was how much expectations and communication mattered. When rules were clear, costs were predictable, and decisions felt transparent, homeowners were more likely to see value in the arrangement. When those elements broke down, frustration followed. As HOA living continues to affect millions of households, how communities are managed may play as large a role in homeowner satisfaction as the rules they enforce.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 U.S. homeowners living in HOA-governed communities in December 2025. The sample was stratified by age and gender to ensure representation across key demographic groups. Respondents were asked about their experiences with HOA-related stress, fees, renovation approvals, conflicts, enforcement, and perceived benefits of HOA living. This approach focused exclusively on firsthand experiences, capturing how homeowners navigate the trade-offs of HOA living in their daily lives.

Prevent stress and emotional strain when renovating your home by taking the advice from our homeowners–expect the unexpected.

About Platinum Home Builders & Design, Inc.

Platinum Home Builders & Design, Inc. is a family-owned construction company with more than 20 years of experience helping homeowners build, remodel, and improve their homes. The company works closely with homeowners on projects that often involve navigating HOA guidelines, obtaining renovation approvals, and adhering to shared community standards.

Fair Use Statement

This article is based on proprietary research conducted by Platinum Home Builders & Design, Inc. You may reuse this content for noncommercial purposes with proper attribution and a link back to our original article.